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Matt Smith
Victory of the Daleks
Eleventh Doctor Logo


Synopsis


The Daleks Reborn
The Daleks Reborn
 From the terrifying future of the United Kingdom to one of the darkest chapters of its past - World War Two. The Doctor and Amy find themselves in a top-secret cabinet war room deep beneath the London streets.

 And there, gliding among the nicotine walls and Bakelite telephones, the Daleks are hatching their deadliest scheme yet. Only one man can help The Doctor - but whose side is Winston Churchill on?

Source: Radio Times


General Information

Season: Thirty One (New Series 5)
Production Code: 5-3
Story Number: 205 (New Series: 49)
Episode Number:759 (New Series: 63)
Number of Episodes: 1
Percentage of Episodes Held:100%
Production Dates: 2009 (Block 2)
Broadcast Date: 17 April 2010
Colour Status: HD Colour
Studio: BBC Wales (Upper Boat, Pontypridd)
Location: None
Writer:Mark Gatiss
Director:Andrew Gunn
Producer:Peter Bennett
Executive Producers:Beth Willis, Piers Wenger and Steven Moffat
Script Editor:Brian Minchin
Editor:John Richards
Production Executive:Julie Scott
Production Manager:Steffan Morris
Production Designer:Edward Thomas
Director of Photography:Graham Frake
Casting Director:Andy Pryor CDG
Line Producer:Patrick Schweitzer
Costume Designer:Ray Holman
Make-Up Designer:Barbara Southcott
Cameramen:Jon Vidgen (Assistant), Tom Hartley (Assistant) and Martin Stephens (Operator)
Visual Effects:The Mill
Special Effects:Real SFX
Prosthetics:Millennium FX
Stunt Co-ordinator:Crispin Layfield
Stunt Performer:Stewart James
Incidental Music:Murray Gold
Special Sounds (SFX Editor):Paul Jefferies
Sound Recordist:Bryn Thomas
Sound Supervisor:Paul McFadden
Music Performed By:The BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Title Sequence:Frame Store
Title Music:Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Arranged by Murray Gold
Daleks Originally Created By: Terry Nation
Number of Doctors: 1
The Doctor: Matt Smith (The Eleventh Doctor)
Number of Companions: 1The Companion: Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) Number of Acquaintances: 1The Acquaintance: Ian McNeice (Winston Churchill) (Departs) Additional Cast: Bill Paterson (Bracewell), Nina De Cosimo (Blanche), Tim Wallers (Childers), Nicholas Pegg (Dalek 1), Barnaby Edwards (Dalek 2), Nicholas Briggs (Dalek Voice), Susannah Fielding (Lillian), James Albrecht (Todd), Colin Prokter (Air Raid Warden)Setting: Earth (1941), Dalek Saucer Villain: Daleks

The Episodes

No. Episodes Broadcast
(UK)
Duration Viewers
(Millions)
In Archive
759Victory of the Daleks17 April 201041'45"7.8Yes

Total Duration 42 Minutes


Audience Appreciation

Average Viewers (Millions) 7.8
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2010)64.30%  (Position = 10 out of 10)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2014)60.92% Lower (Position = 193 out of 241)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2023) Position = 32 out of 39


Archives


 This story exists and is held in the BBC's Film and Videotape Library.



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Notes


This story is written by Mark Gatiss whose previous stories are the 2005 Ninth Doctor story "The Unquiet Dead" and the 2006 Tenth Doctor story "The Idiot's Lantern".

Ian McNeice previously portrayed Winston Churchill in the Royal National Theatre's 2008 production of Never So Good. Ian McNeice is more famous for playing the part of Bert Large in Doc Martin.

Colin Procktor, who appeared in nine episodes of Coronation Street, previously played the part of the Head Chef in the 2005 Ninth Doctor story "The Long Game".

Nicholas Briggs, who has been involved with Torchwood: Children of Earth and many Doctor Who stories, again provides the voice of the Daleks.

The end of the previous story, "The Beast Below", directly follows in to this story.

Like the 2005 Ninth Doctor story "The Unquiet Dead" in Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1), this story is the third in the season, is a pseudo-historical, is penned by Mark Gatiss, and is both preceded and followed by two stories by the head writer.

This story contains the Eleventh Doctor’s and Amy Pond’s first encounter with the Daleks.

This is the second Dalek story since the show was revived in 2005 to use the infamous "… of the Daleks" title scheme, the first being the second episode of the 2007 Tenth Doctor story "Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks".

In issue 420 of the Doctor Who Magazine, Steven Moffat stated: ‘I can see you all smirking at the title, and thinking “Oh, I bet it's not a victory”. Yeah? Do you think?’ and Mark Gatiss has revealed ‘The reason it's called "Victory of the Daleks" is cos they win. They win’.

This is the third time in the revised show that the Daleks have featured mid-way in a season, following "Dalek" in Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1) and then in Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3) two part story "Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks".

Subservient Daleks is also the theme of the first story for the Second Doctor, "The Power of the Daleks" broadcast in 1966. In "The Power of the Daleks" the Daleks claim they simply wanted to help colonists on the planet Vulcan. Their hollow-sounding claim during that story - ‘I am your servant’ is echoed in "Victory of the Daleks" with their mendacious assurance: ‘I am your soldier’.

The redesigned ‘new paradigm’ Daleks debut in this story. The red, blue and yellow Daleks were revealed in the Radio Times and the colours were used to symbolise the different colours of the British Parliament parties; Red being for Labour, Blue for Conservative and Yellow to represent the Liberal Democrats. The yellow Dalek issue was produced with less quantity and are therefore harder to get than the blue and red Dalek covers.

Mark Gatiss stated in an article in the Radio Times: ‘They're bigger than they've ever been; and in Technicolor!’ – so revealing that the new Daleks are different colours like the Daleks that appeared in the original run of the show.

In the chapter of Doctor Who Confidential, that covers the making of this story, Mark Gatiss also confirms that the brightly coloured restored Daleks are a nod to the 1960s Amicus Amicus Doctor Who films; Doctor Who and the Daleks and Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 AD, staring Peter Cushing as Doctor Who. It has also been revealed that each Dalek was given a name or title. Whilst it is unclear which title belongs to which Dalek, Steven Mofatt mentioned ‘Soldier’, ‘Drone’, ‘Scientist’ and ‘Strategist’. The yellow Dalek however, is stated to be ‘The Eternal’ but Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss both admit they don't know what that means yet.

This story holds the record for the most non-CGI Dalek models used in a single story, with no less then eight Dalek models on-screen at the same time.

The Doctor mentions how the Daleks always manage to recognise him despite his regenerations, as they first did with his second incarnation in "The Power of the Daleks". However, this has not always been the case. In the 1985 Sixth Doctor story "Revelation of the Daleks", only Davros' Daleks recognised his sixth incarnation, with the other faction disbelieving that he was The Doctor.

The Doctor mentions sending the Daleks back into the Void and saving the whole of reality from their efforts (he is referring to: "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday" and "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End"). The Doctor also threatens the Daleks with ‘the final end’, referencing "The Evil of the Daleks".

The new Daleks use a Time Corridor to depart at the end of the story. The last time a Time Corridor was used on-screen was in the 1984 Fifth Doctor story "Resurrection of the Daleks". It was also mentioned in the 1988 Seventh Doctor story "Remembrance of the Daleks".

We are reminded that The Doctor's TARDIS is a ‘Type 40’. There were originally 305 registered Type 40s, but it is revealed that by the time The Doctor's finally made it back to Gallifrey in "The Deadly Assassin", the rest had been decommissioned. Many people, notably The Master, have been disrespectful about the old ship but it survived every other TARDIS with the Tenth Doctor stating it was the only one left in existence.

The Doctor has previously visited London during the Blitz. The Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler had an adventure there in the 2005 story "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances", written by Steven Moffat.

The Doctor and Winston Churchill appear to have a firmly established friendship in this story, although the characters have not previously met on-screen. (The Sixth Doctor meet Churchill in the spin-off BBC Books’ The Past Doctor Stories: "Players" and "The Shadow in the Glass"). Churchill is able to contact The Doctor via telephone and has prior knowledge of the TARDIS (He wants The Doctor's TARDIS key). Churchill also remarks that The Doctor has changed his face again, implying that he is aware of the regeneration process and has encountered at least two incarnations of The Doctor prior to the Eleventh Doctor.

Winston Churchill is heard to comment about Aldolf Hitler invading hell is a version of the comment the real Winston Churchill made during the course of the war, stating, ‘If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons’.

Amy Pond is heard calling Edwin Bracewell ‘Paisley’ and ‘Paisley Boy’. Paisley is a town in Renfrewshire, central Scotland and is the birthplace of Executive Producer Steven Moffat.

The Dalek Saucer, seen in the dogfight with the Spitfires, is the same sort as those seen in "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday" and "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End".

Broadsword calling Danny Boy’ is a quote from the film Where Eagles Dare which is a novel by Alistair MacLean. This film features Peter Barker (Clent in the 1967 Second Doctor story "The Ice Warriors") and Ingrid Pitt who appeared in two Doctor Who stories: the 1972 Third Doctor story "The Time Monster" and the 1984 Fifth Doctor story "Warriors of the Deep".

The Doctor is seen using a Jammy Dodger as a TARDIS self-destruct tool to threaten the Daleks with.

The Doctor refers to the events of the 2008 Tenth Doctor story "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End" when talking to Amy Pond about the Daleks. Amy however, does not remember these events – thus making The Doctor realise that something is seriously wrong.

At the end of this story, when the TARDIS dematerialises, another crack in the universe is shown in the Cabinet War Room wall behind where the TARDIS had been. This has been a recurring theme since "The Eleventh Hour" - the first story of this season.

Immediately after the end credits a trailer for Doctor Who: The Adventure Game was shown.

Following on immediately after this story, on BBC3, was the third chapter of the fifth series of Doctor Who Confidential. Titled "War Games" which looked into the making of this story and the latest return of the Daleks.



First and Last

The Firsts:

 Amy Pond's first trip into the past.

 The first time that the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond encounter the Daleks.

 The first portrayal of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the show.


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The Plot

WARNING: May Contain SpoilersHide Text
Victory of the Daleks

Wartime London
Wartime London

After being summoned by Winston Churchill the TARDIS materialises in the Cabinet War Rooms during the Second World War. The Doctor and Amy Pond are greeted by the Prime Minister who recognises The Doctor as they recount some of their past experiences. He also informs The Doctor that he had called for assistance a month ago.

Winston Churchill then uses a Luftwaffe squadron, approaching London, to demonstrate to The Doctor his latest weapon. As the squadron comes into view over Blitz-torn London, they are shot down by energy weapons fired with amazing precision. The weapons used is revealed to be controlled by Ironsides, designed by Professor Edwin Bracewell, a Scottish scientist. The Doctor though instantly recognises the green coloured Union Flag-wearing Ironside is in reality a Dalek…

Despite The Doctor's protests about the Daleks' being deadly, Professor Bracewell insists that he invented them and they are docile and readily willing to perform menial tasks such as serving tea. With Winston Churchill defending them, and only thinking of the victories he could have, The Doctor becomes more frustrated at not being able to convince anyone how dangerous the Daleks. He even asks Amy to tell Winston Churchill about the Dalek’s invasion of the Earth in her past. The Doctor though is visibly unnerved when Amy has no recollection of the incident and can give no reason why she would have missed them.

Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill

Intent on proving that the seemingly obedient Daleks' are pure evil, and can not be trusted, The Doctor interrogates Professor Bracewell and learns that the Daleks are one of several of his futuristic inventions. In desperation The Doctor resorts to repeatedly striking a Dalek with a heavy spanner and goads the Dalek by recalling his battles with them. The Doctor finally exclaims ‘I am The Doctor and you are the Daleks!’. The Dalek finally acknowledges this sentence by revealing its true identity and reverting to its true personality. The Dalek then repeats The Doctor’s last words and announces it has transmitted this ‘testimony’ to a Dalek saucer orbiting the Earth while all the other Daleks turn hostile – so proving The Doctor correct. Professor Bracewell protests claiming he created the Daleks. But One of the Daleks shoots his hand, leaving only exposed wiring, revealing Professor Bracewell to be an android. The Daleks then reveal that they are his creator, and teleport away. heir creator.

Curious as to what the Daleks meant by wanting his ‘testimony’ The Doctor rushes back to the TARDIS, telling Amy to stay behind as where he is going is too dangerous. Amy tries to protest, by pointing out that he is leaving her in a war-torn London, but The Doctor enters the TARDIS without her anyway.

Bracewell's Ironside
Bracewell's Ironside

The TARDIS materialises in the Dalek ship. The Doctor pretends to be brandishing a TARDIS self-destruct control so that the Daleks do not exterminate him. The Daleks reveal that one ship survived the destruction of the Dalek race and that it went after the last remaining Progenator Device, a capsule containing pure Dalek DNA, from which the Dalek race could be rebuilt. The Doctor figures out that they built Professor Bracewell because the Progenator Device did not recognise them as Dalek, since these Daleks were grown from Davros' DNA. The Daleks then allowed themselves to become part of the British army knowing that Winston Churchill would lure The Doctor to them so giving them the opportunity for The Doctor to confirm them as Daleks. The Progenator would then accept this as proof, because The Doctor is the Daleks' greatest enemy.

The Daleks then tell The Doctor to leave, or they will destroy London but The Doctor, convinced that they do not have that power, refuses. The Daleks then fire a ray turning all of London's lights on, rendering London's blackout efforts ineffective so making the city an easy target to another incoming squadron of Luftwaffe bombers. With no way of switching the lights off Amy and Winston Churchill realise they can use Professor Bracewell to fight back against the Daleks. After stopping him from committing suicide, they convince him to help them send some modified Spitfires, equipped with Dalek laser cannons and anti-gravity technology, to attack the Dalek saucer.

Meanwhile, the Progenator completes its process, and creates a ‘new paradigm’ consisting of 5 ‘pure’ Daleks (identified as a ‘Scientist’, ‘Strategist’, ‘Drone’, ‘The Eternal’ and ‘The Supreme’). These pure Daleks are larger, more imposing, and more powerful than their predecessors who willingly offer themselves for extermination.

Trying to Reason With Churchill
Trying to Reason With Churchill

The Daleks discover The Doctor has not really got a self-destruct device, just as the Spitfires begin their attack. Assisted by The Doctor, who has returned to the TARDIS, the Spitfires destroy the Dalek transmitter. But this only prompts the Daleks to use an ‘oblivion continuum’ bomb, concealed inside Professor Bracewell, to destroy the Earth.

This forces The Doctor to rush back to Earth, in order to stop the detonation. On arrival back in the Cabinet War Rooms he reveals the bomb inside Professor Bracewell. He also realises that the only way to stop the bomb from exploding is to convince Professor Bracewell that he is a human, not a bomb. He tries to remind the Professor of all his memories and how they hurt, but he cannot seem to stop the countdown. As the Oblivion Continuum approaches detonation, Amy steps in and asks Professor Bracewell if he has ever fancied someone he shouldn't. While dwelling on this, the countdown retreats to zero, cancelling the detonation.

With the threat to Earth over The Doctor realises his act to save Earth has resulted in him being too late to stop the Daleks from escaping. For a few moments, he feels that he has lost, but Amy reminds him that he has saved the Earth.

After bidding farewell to Winston Churchill, and his staff, The Doctor is puzzled and worried as to why Amy does not remember the Daleks from their previous attack over London or the Medusa Cascade incident. As the TARDIS dematerialises, another crack in the universe is revealed in the wall behind where the TARDIS stood.

 
Churchill and Amy
Churchill and Amy
Professor Bracewell
Professor Bracewell
The Doctor
The Doctor
Two Daleks
Two Daleks
 
Resurrection of the Daleks
Resurrection of the Daleks
Confronting the
Confronting the "Pure" Daleks
Destroying the Impure
Destroying the Impure
Allowing the Daleks to Escape
Allowing the Daleks to Escape




Quote of the Story


 'YOU. ARE. MY. ENEMY. AND I AM YOURS. You are everything I despise. The worst thing in all creation. I have defeated you time and time again. I have defeated you. I have sent you back into the Void. I have saved the whole of reality from you. I am the Doctor, and you are the Daleks!'

The Doctor



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Release Information

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)Code NumberCover ArtRemarks
Video
DVD
The Eleventh Hour - The Beast Below - Victory of the DaleksJune 2010BBCDVD 3213Photo-montage
Video
Blu-Ray
The Eleventh Hour - The Beast Below - Victory of the DaleksJune 2010BBCBD 0082Photo-montage
Video
DVD
The Complete Fifth Series Box SetNovember 2010BBCDVD 3285Photo-montageDVD boxed set containing all 10 stories
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete Fifth Series Box SetNovember 2010BBCBD 0115Photo-montageBlu-Ray boxed set containing all 10 stories
Video
DVD
The Complete Fifth Series Box Set (Limited Edition)November 2010BBCDVD 3344Photo-montageLimited Edition DVD boxed set containing all 10 stories
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete Fifth Series Box Set (Limited Edition)November 2010BBCBD 0130Photo-montageLimited Edition Blu-Ray boxed set containing all 10 stories
Audio
CD
Original Television Soundtrack - Series 5November 2010Photo-montageMusic by Murray Gold
Audio
CD
The Essential CompanionNovember 2010Photo-montageDocumentary
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete Series 1-7 Box Set (Limited Edition)December 2013BBCBD 0242Photo-montageLimited Edition Blu-Ray boxed set containing all Series 1-7 stories at full 1080p high definition
Video
DVD
The Complete Fifth Series (2014 Re-release)August 2014BBCDVD 3969Photo-montageBoxed set containing all 10 stories
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete Fifth Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)February 2020BBCBD 0487Photo-montageLimited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook boxed set containing 10 stories
Audio
LP
Original Television Soundtrack - Series 5July 2023Photo-montageMusic by Murray Gold


In Print

No Book Release
Doctor Who Magazine - PreviewIssue 420 (Released: April 2010)
Doctor Who Magazine - ReviewIssue 422 (Released: June 2010)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 497 (Released: April 2016)
Doctor Who Magazine - ArticleIssue 549 (Released: April 2020)
Doctor Who DVD FilesVolume 75 (Released: November 2011)

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Photo Gallery


The Doctor and Companion/Acquaintance

 
Matt Smith
The Eleventh Doctor

   

Karen Gillan
Amy Pond
 
Ian McNeice
Winston Churchill
   




On Release

DVD Cover
DVD Cover

BBC
VIDEO
Blu-Ray Cover
Blu-Ray Cover

BBC
VIDEO
Complete Series DVD Box Set
Complete Series DVD Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set
Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
   
Ltd Edition DVD Box Set
Ltd Edition DVD Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Ltd Edition Blu-Ray Box Set
Ltd Edition Blu-Ray Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Original Television Soundtrack Cover
Original Television Soundtrack Cover

BBC
AUDIO
The Essential Companion Cover
The Essential Companion Cover

BBC
AUDIO
   
Complete Series 1-7 Ltd Edition Blu-Ray Box Set
Complete Series 1-7 Ltd Edition Blu-Ray Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Complete Series DVD Box Set<BR>(2014 Re-release)
Complete Series DVD Box Set
(2014 Re-release)

BBC
VIDEO
Complete Series Blu-Ray Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set
Complete Series Blu-Ray Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Original Television Soundtrack Vinyl Cover
Original Television Soundtrack Vinyl Cover

Silva Screen
AUDIO
   



Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 420
Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 420

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Review: Issue 422
Doctor Who Magazine - Review: Issue 422

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 497
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 497

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Article: Issue 549
Doctor Who Magazine - Article: Issue 549

Marvel Comics
   
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 75
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 75

GE Fabbri


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